The KAPPAN Congratulates! Royaline Edwards Receives Sarah Farmer Peace Award
R
oyaline Edwards of Kittery, a member of ME Epsilon Chapter, is the recipient of the 2020 Sarah Farmer Peace Award. The award is presented annually by the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Portsmouth, NH, and Green Acre Baha’i Center of Learning in Eliot, ME, to recognize the contributions of area individuals or groups who strive to promote world peace and understanding among nations and members through local action. She received her award in a public webinar ceremony recognizing the United Nations International Day of Peace in September. During the question and answer part of the webinar, Royaline said, “As a peace-builder, I use the building blocks of love, joy and peace to strengthen stature, assembling respect, integrity and perseverance to enhance and promote well-being.” Royaline retired as an elementary school teacher in Portsmouth, NH, after dedicating 34 years to the education of young children. She wrote and directed the play, Listen to the Drums - A Tribute to Harriet Tubman, and was instrumental in working with teachers and students at several schools on its production. In 2002 she received an invitation from the Seacoast Repertory Theater to produce “Drums” in celebration of Black History Month. She brought together a cast of former and present thespians of “Drums” who performed to a packed house. She was thrilled that the Peace Award Ceremony offered another opportunity to bring the message of the play to the community through a virtual presentation. Royaline was asked on one occasion about the impact of the play on the students. She shared an encounter with a young substitute teacher who was walking by during a rehearsal for an upcoming production. Waiting for a moment the teacher said, smiling, that she knew the song the children were singing. It turned out that she had been a cast member of “Drums” when she was in third grade. She still remembered the lines of the character she had portrayed and recited them perfectly. Royaline says hearing similar stories from former students who express how much they enjoyed performing their roles and how much they learned about others and themselves really taps at her heartstrings. In addition to being a playwright, Royaline has also published a semi-autobiographical book Kandi about a young African American girl moving from the south to the north in the 1960-1970s. ME Epsilon members read and discussed Kandi with its author at a chapter meeting. 8
Florida AΔK Beta Psi Art Teacher Wins State Award
A
fter forty-four years experience, Teresa “Terry” Woodlief, FL Beta Psi, was named Elementary Art Teacher of the Year, 2020 by the Florida Art Education Association. “This award was especially meaningful,” she reflected, “because I was chosen by my peers, and there’s no tougher audience.” Recently retired, Terry serves as a Teaching Artist at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. She currently serves her chapter as Technology Rep and coordinates virtual chapter meetings each month. “Sometimes I feel a little awkward about receiving awards, but they validate that I’m on the right path; and that encouragement fuels me to move forward.” From the onset of her career, Terry has been considered a leader in arts education. While a senior Art Education major at UNF, she served as president of the FAEA Student Chapter. Throughout her career, she continued her professional memberships, advanced to leadership roles and currently serves on the board of Northeast Florida Art Education Association. Terry presents workshops on topics relating to teaching students with disabilities, as well as Arts and Technology Integration. As an active mentor, Terry guides novice art teachers as a professional learning community facilitator, encouraging the use of cross-curricular instruction. “I feel that veteran teachers have a responsibility to new teachers. And we’re making an investment in the future of arts education.” Terry was awarded the FAEA Museum Educator of the Year 2013, Florida Governor’s Shine Award 2015 and the Kennedy Center’s Any Given Child Award 2018 for Excellence in Arts Teaching. She was twice a semi-finalist, and once a finalist, for Duval County Teacher of the Year, 2015. Most recently, she was awarded the Gladys Prior Award 2019 for Sustained Excellence in Teaching.
13
K A P PA N • M A R C H 2 0 2 1
14
